Card catalog drawer



Feb. 17, 1970 J. RISOM ETAL CARD CATALOG DRAWER Filed Aug. 10, 1967INVENTORS JENS RISOM CARL JACOEAS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,495,731 CARD CATALOG DRAWER Jens Risom, NewCanaan, and Carl Jacobs, Old Greenwich, Conn. (both of 444 Madison Ave.,New York,

Filed Aug. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 659,715 Int. Cl. 1342f 17/08; B65d 9/30;G091. 3/20 U.S. Cl. 2204 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE bottom wallis accommodated. The front wall, which is secured to tabs on thewall-forming continuous member is provided with an indicia receivingslot having a chamfer cut at one end thereof implementing ready removaland insertion of the necessary identifying indicia in the slot. A handlecontoured to permit fulcruming about the wrist of the user is providedto implement one-handed manipulation of the drawer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the art of cardcatalog drawers, and more particularly to an improved construction for acard catalog drawer particularly adapted for use in libraries wherethese drawers are subject to continuous manipulation, and are oftenremoved from the cabinet to provide access to the catalog cardscontained therein.

A variety of such card catalog drawers have been evolved over the yearsfor use in libraries. These drawers must, of necessity, be sturdilyconstructed to accommodate the rather rigorous use to which they areput. In use, they are not only partially withdrawn from the cabinet toexpose their cards for examination, but where the position of thecatalog drawer in cabinet is not at a comfortable eye level, the drawersare often completely removed from the cabinet and taken to a librarytable or cabinet ledge. The repeated opening and closing of the drawers,and their repeated removal and reinsertion into the cabinet, subjectsthese drawers to considerable shock load with resultant deterioration,particularly at the conventionally formed joints of the generallyrectangular drawer. Any loosening of the joints of the drawer results inan expansion of the drawer, making it difiicult to move the drawer outof or into the cabinet, and further often results in the drawer comingapart when it is removed from the cabinet, with the cards containedtherein being dispersed, and often lost in the process.

Additional problems arise in that the handles on the drawers employed tomanipulate them with respect to the cabinet, are positioned on the frontfacade of the drawer. Even where these handles are large enough to begripped by the full hand of the user, the turning moment about the wristof the user produced by the weight of the card filled drawer is such asto generally require the use of two hands for removal of the drawer fromthe cabinet. This required use of two hands interferes with the free useof the card catalog when the user is encumbered by books or note pads,as is generally the case.

Further problems arise in connection with previously evolved cardcatalog drawers in that means must be provided to accommodateappropriate indicia identifying the contents of the drawer. Such indiciaare generally accom- 3,495,731 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 modated by a faceplate or frame in which an indicia hearing card is slidably retained.The conventionally provided face plate frame protrudes slightly beyondthe face of the drawer front, and provides a relatively dangerouslysharp edge against which the fingers of the user are often scratched orcut. Additionally, removal of the indicia bearing card from the framepresents a problem in that if the card is snugly retained in the frame,as it must be, removal of the indicia bearing card, or the like,requires careful, and generally awkward manipulation of the card withrespect to the frame.

SUMMARY It is with the above problems and considerations in mind thatthe present improved drawer construction has been evolved, a cardcatalog drawer particularly adapted for use in library card catalogs inwhich the number of joints in the drawers subject to detachment isreduced, and a handle arrangement is provided implementing onehandedmanipulation of the drawer. Additionally, a novel arrangement of meansfor positioning the necessary indicia on the drawer are provided forfacilitating the change of the indicia.

It is accordingly among the primary objects of this invention to providean improved drawer construction particularly adapted for the rigoroususe to which card catalog drawers are subjected in libraries.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card catalog drawer witha handle serving to facilitate one handed manipulation of the drawerwhen in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means forsupporting indicia bearing cards, or the like, with respect to thedrawer so as to facilitate the provision and exchange of the indicia.

These and other objects of the invention, which will become hereafterapparent, are achieved by forming the generally rectangular card catalogdrawer with its side and rear walls formed from a continuous memberhaving inwardly turned front tabs thereon. This wall forming continuousmember may be fabricated of moulded plywood, plastic sheeting, or anyoneof a wide variety of materials lending themselves to desired contouring.A bottom plate is arranged between the continuous member and is securedthereto by means of a tennon and mortise joint. The continuous wallforming member, and the bottom wall are held in assembled relationshipby virtue of a front wall plate which is secured to the tabs of thecontinuous member serving to maintain them in desired spacedrelationship. This front wall is formed with a slot having overlyinglips thereon within which an identifying member is slidablyaccommodated. By providing a chamfer cut preferably of a semicircularconfiguration at one end of the slot, manipulation of the identifyingmember is facilitated. A handle member is provided on this front wallwhich is contoured with a gripping portion inclined upwardly towards thewall with a greater distance between the lower end of the handle and thewall than exist between the upper end of the handle in the wall. Byvirtue of this inclination, the hand of the user in gripping the handleis normally inclined to orient the muscles of the arm so as to permitmaximum resistance to the turning moment of the drawer without requiringthe exertion of any great effort by the user.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that theinclination of the gripping portion of the handle serves to normallyposition the muscles of the arm of the user in a way so as to providemaximum resistance to the turning moment of the drawer. t

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of theundercut chamfer at one end of the slot to permit ready manualmanipulation of the identifying card which must be inserted into theslot.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The specific details of the preferredembodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning will bepartic ularly pointed out in clear, concise and exact terms inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a card catalog drawer madein accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional elevational view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG.1 illustrating the details of the interconnection of the components ofthe drawer;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view looking down at the drawer, with parts brokenaway to facilitate illustration; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the end of the drawer front wall,illustrating the indicia removing chamfer formed in the indiciaretaining slot of the drawer;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing how the contouring of thehandle facilitates one-handed manipulation of the drawer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawing, like numerals in the various figures will be employed todesignate like parts.

The card catalog drawer 10, as illustrated in the drawings, is formed ofthe normally rectangular configuration common to such catalog drawers.The side walls 12 and 14 are formed integrally with rear wall 16 of acontinuous member 17. This continuous member 17 is preferably fabricatedof molded plywood. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat this continuous member may, however, be formed from a variety ofsheet materials such, for example, as of that class of materialscommonly designated as plastics. The continuous wall forming member 17is formed with inwardly turned front tabs 19 and 20, as best seen inFIG. 3.

Overlying tabs 1'9 and 20, and secured thereto, is front facade wall 22.Securement of the front facade wall 22 to the tabs 19 and 20 isaccomplished by means of front liner wall 24. The tabs 19 and 20, asbest seen in FIG. 2, are sandwiched between liner wall 24 and facadewall 22. Assembly of the components is accomplished by means of frontwall securing screw 26 which, as seen in FIG. 2, is arranged to extendbetween the liner wall 24 and facade wall 22 along a line downwardlyinclined towards the front of the drawer. This downward inclination isimportant in serving to maintain the wall members 22 and 24 in assembledrelationship when the drawer is removed from its case, as will behereinafter more fully described. Though screw 26 may be extendedthrough the tabs 19 and 20, a more satisfactory joining is provided byforming the liner wall 24 with shoulder 27 which abuts directly againstfacade wall 22, and tab engaging screws 28, as best seen in FIG. 3,extended between the tabs 19 and 20 and facade wall 22.

Walls 24 and 22 are formed with aligned apertures 29 and 30respectively, with aperture 30 being larger in diameter than aperture29. Extending through these aligned apertures 29 and 30 is a cardaligning and holding rod 32 having flanged knob assembly 34 on the freeend thereof which extends in press fit relationship through aperture 30.

The front facade wall 22 is formed with a slot 36 extending across thewidth of the wall 22. A transparent window member 37 of glass, orpreferably a plastic, is arranged in channels 38, 39 respectively at thelower and upper edges of the slot 36, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5,with the upper walls of the channel defining lips. Window 37 ispreferably dimensioned to provide a force fit in channels 38 and 39. Itwill be observed that channels 38 and 39 are spaced from the bottomsurface 40 of slot 36. The spacing between the surface 40, and channels38 and 39 is such that when the window 37 is in position, as illustratedin FIG. 2, there will be sufficient clearance to permit free insertionof a card member 42 upon which the requisite indicia identifying thecontents of the drawer may be applied. The indicia bearing card 42 ispreferably dimensioned to provide a relatively loose press fit in thespace between window 37 and surface 40. At one end of the slot 36, theWall 40 of the slot, as best seen in FIG. 5, is formed with asemicircular chamfer 45, preferably dimensioned to permit insertion ofthe tip of the index finger for frictional engagement with theundersurface of the indicia bearing card 42 to implement insertion andremoval of the card 42.

The bottom wall 50 of the drawer is formed by means of a plate having aperipherally extending tenon flange 52. The bottom wall plate 50 may beformed as a solid member, may be provided with a longitudinal slot toaccommodate a card compressing assembly, such for example as theWeber-Knapp follower and latch assembly. This bottom wall plate 50 isdimensioned to fit within the confines of the wall forming continuousmember 17, as illustrated, and tenon 52 is received within a mortiseslot 53 in the wall forming continuous member, as best seen in FIGS. 2and 4. The retaining angle member 54 of the follower and latch assemblyis driven between the bottom of liner wall 24 and bottom wall 50 as seenin FIG. 2.

Handle 55, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 is formed with an inclinedmanually grippable portion 56 inclined downwardly away from facade wall22. Upper leg 57 of the handle fits into a slot 58 in the upper surfaceof facade wall 22, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, and screw 59 extendsthrough this upper leg 57 into the facade wall 22. It will be observedthat the screw 59 extends transverse to the axis of legs 57, therebyeliminating any possibility of stripping the threads on this screw 59 byvirtue of a pull on the handle 55. Lower leg 61 of handle 55 abutsagainst the front surface of facade wall 22, and is secured thereto bymeans of machine screw 63 extending through the front facade wall 22from the rear thereof, as best seen in FIG. 2. Any turning moment suchas would normally result when the handle is employed to support thedrawer, will force the handle axially against the screw 63.

OPERATION Production of the novel drawer is accomplished by utilizingconventional fabrication techniques to form the side and rear walls ofthe drawer of a single continuous member, preferably such as plywood, bysteam molding techniques or the like. The continuous member is formedwith the inturned tabs 19 and 20, and mortise slot 53. Bottom wall 50,formed of plywood or the like, is arranged with its tenon flange 52 inmortise slot 53. An adhesive is preferably employed in forming thisjoint.

The handle 55 may be formed of a variety of materials, but is preferablyfabricated of a strip of nonferrous material such as aluminum, or thelike, and is shaped into the contour illustrated. This handle isassembled with respect to the front facade wall 22 by means of woodscrew 59, and machine bolt 63. It will be observed that screw 59 extendsperpendicular to the axis of bolt 63 so that tensile forces on one ofthese fastening members will be resisted by a shear force on the other.

The assembled handle and front facade wall 22 are secured to theinturned tabs 19 and 20 by means of wood screws 28 extending from thetabs 19 and 20 into the rear of front facade wall 22. Thereafter, frontliner wall 24 is positioned as illustarted in FIG. 2, secured inposition by means of fastening screw 26 which extends at a skew anglewith respect to the longitudinal axis of the drawer, thereby providing ashear axis to resist any tendency of front facade wall 22 to pull awayfrom liner wall 24.

In use, the drawer is positioned in a cabinet, as in conventionalfashion. It will be observed by those skilled in the art that the rigorsof use to which the card catalog drawers are normally subjected can havea relatively minimal effect in terms of breaking the joints of thedrawer, since the number of joints have been considerably reduced.

In manipulating the drawer with respect to its cabinet, as best seen inFIG. 6, it will be observed that the angle of the hand of the user, ingripping the handle, serves to stretch the muscles along the upperportion of the arm of the user. As a result of this distension of thewrist muscles, the hand of the user becomes substantially rigid withrespect to the arm, and one-handed manipulation of the drawer becomespossible.

In the event that it is necessary or desirable to change the indiciaapplied to the drawer, instead of the heretofore burdensome manipulationrequired to remove the indicia bearing card, the simple insertion of thetip of the index finger in the chamfer 45 permits displacement of thecard with a portion of it sticking out of the opposite end of the slot36 to permit it being gripped for removal.

It is thus seen that a simple card catalog drawer has been evolvedhaving a minimum number of joints subject to coming apart, subject toready one-handed manipulation, and subject to having its identifyingindicia readily changed.

What is claimed is:

1. A card catalog drawer comprising: side and rear walls formed from acontinuous member; inwardly turned front tabs on said continuous memberformed integrally therewith; a mortise slot in said side and rear walls;a bottom wall plate fitting within said continuous member; tenonprojections on said bottom plate dimensioned to fit securely in saidmortise slot; a front facade Wall overlying said tabs and securedthereto; a slot extending completely across the facade of said frontwall; overlying lips on said slot; an identification member slidable insaid slot beneath said lips; and a chamfer cut at one end of said slot;a handle on said front Wall; a top leg on said handle extending in aslot in the top edge of said front wall; a lower leg on said handlehaving an end butting against the front surface of said front wall, saidhandle having a manually grippable portion up- Wardly inclined towardsaid front wall, to permit fulcruming about the wrist of the userimplementing one hand manipulation.

2. A card catalog drawer, as in claim 1, in which a front liner wall isarranged over said tabs, sandwiching said tabs between said front linerwall and said front facade wall.

3. A card catalog drawer, as in claim 2, in which said liner wall issecured to said facade wall by a screw extending at a skew angle to theplane of said walls.

4. A card catalog drawer, as in claim 1, in which said chamfer cut atone end of said slot intersects the plane of said slot and the edge ofsaid facade wall along a circular arc.

5. A card catalog drawer, as in claim 1, in which said slot is formedwith channels beneath said lips; and a window force fit in said channelsabove said identification member.

6. A card catalog drawer, as in claim 1 in which said handle is securedto said front wall by fastening members extending at right angles toeach other between said legs and said front wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 912,412 2/ 1909 Rackmeyer 40-17948,378 2/1910 Prouty 220 961,678 6/1910 Brown 40-16 1,290,743 1/1919Herpst 220 1,621,393 3/1927 Bergmann 40-16 1,944,070 1/ 1934 =Esd0rn40-16 3,238,656 3/ 1966 Kunzelberger 40-325 GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 40-325; 312-234

